Will A Third Political Force Emerge From The Current Instability?
Latheef Farook
Disgusting and despicable political crisis triggered by the sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister on 26 October 2018 demonstrated the need for a third political force to save the country.
The irony is that this crisis was sparked at a time when the country is already passing through political and economic instability. Thus the pressing need of the hour is for a political leader like Dr Mahathir Mohamed who within three months after assuming office arrested former Prime Minister Najeeb and his wife.
The mere fact that of the three-President Sirisena, sacked and reinstated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the illegally appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, did not show any flexibility to end the crisis showed that they were only keen on grabbing power and not the interest of the country and its suffering people.
Long before the October 26 disaster people in general have lost confidence in all three leaders-President Maithripala Sirisena who tricked the people and took the entire country for a ride with his false promises, sacked and restored Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was accused of involvement in the multi billion rupee bond scam and disgraced prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who together with his family members were accused of widespread crime and corruption.
Thus the mood in the country was overall disillusionment. It was under such gloomy atmosphere President Sirisena triggered this unwanted political crisis.
At the beginning the entire country was shocked. However Sri Lankans, especially professionals, responded promptly and spoken out against the violation of the constitution demanding the restoration of democracy. This included Sinhalese. Tamils, Muslims and all others.
With its unanimous verdict the court restored people’s confidence on the judiciary. In an article Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda pointed out that;
“In two judgments delivered in two consecutive days, Sri Lanka’s supreme court has sent out a firm message to the country’s quarrelling political leaders: constitution and democracy first. The judges have also assured Sri Lankan citizens that in their fight to defend Sri Lanka’s endangered democracy, the judiciary is now a reliable arbiter. The Supreme Court has also said a firm ‘no’ to a narrow and personal agenda of President Sirisena who has, by a series of bizarre words and deeds, repeatedly proved himself to be a liability to the whole country”.
The overall message is democracy has come to stay in the island. Though distorted and projected as victory for Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, it was really a victory for democracy and the people. In almost every UNP public meetings people in general said” we are not here for Ranil Wickremesnighe but for the restoration of democracy.
Summing up the situation a Sinhalese professional addressing a small gathering at the Baptist Church premises at Liptons Roundabout on the day the court issued the verdict on Thursday 13 December 2018 had this state;
”We have not come out to make Ranil Wickremesinghe the prime minister, but to ensure democracy is restored. Our struggle is for our rights and democracy. He said this country was brought to this disastrous position due to three different factors;
